Top 5 Star Wars Shots

At the end of this week Lucasfilm are going to give us our first look at Episode IV when the trailer is unveiled at Star Wars Celebration Chicago. We thought we would take this opportunity to look back at some of the best images from the franchise so far.

Here are our five best shots from Star Wars.

5. Han confronts Kylo

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Disney/Lucasfilm)

J.J. Abrams wasn’t being subtle with this shot but the lighting is spectacular. Han is literally trying to pull Kylo out of the dark into the light and that light is coming from Rey. Although a lot of the Force Awakens pays homage to what has gone before this shot is unique to this film.

4. Darth Maul appears

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (Disney/Lucasfilm)

The whole of The Phantom Menace had been leading up to this point. Our heroes had encountered Darth Maul before this point but this is where you know it is all going to kick off. The doors slides open and Maul is just standing there oozing aggression. This is the shot people had waited 16 years for.

3. The final duel

Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith (Disney/Lucasfilm)

Our two heroes go at it while the world explodes around them. Kenobi’s side of the shot is light and Skywalker’s side is dark. The lightsabers glow brighter than they have ever before. This is one of Lucas’s greatest shots and was used heavily to promoted the film.

2. Luke confronts Vader

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Disney/Lucasfilm)

Orange and blue are complementary colours which is why this shot is so beautiful. The characters are in silhouette and the light is filtered through smoke. Director Irvin Kershner and cinematographer Peter Suschitzky created the artiest shot in all of Star Wars.

1. The binary sunset

Star Wars: A New Hope (Disney/Lucasfilm)

This shot is Star Wars. When you see it you can here the music playing, you feel Luke’s desire for adventure. It could be on earth but the two suns give it the otherworldly feel without any extravagant effects. If this shot didn’t work Star Wars wouldn’t have worked.